Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The state government has told the Jharkhand High Court that the CGL examination conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) was cancelled in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines, a claim made in an affidavit filed by Joint Secretary of the Personnel Department, Amar Kumar.
Government Says Entire Exam Process Was Compromised
Responding to a petition challenging the cancellation of the CGL exam, the government’s affidavit states that the entire examination process had become contaminated, making it virtually impossible to distinguish between candidates who had cleared the exam fairly and those who had done so through unfair means. It was on this basis, the affidavit says, that the exam was cancelled in light of guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court. To justify the cancellation, the government cited the Supreme Court’s directions in the Vanshika vs Union of India case, noting that the apex court had held that if an entire examination process becomes compromised and it is not possible to separate genuine candidates from those who benefited unfairly, the exam should be cancelled altogether. The government also referenced instances of various state governments having cancelled examinations on similar grounds.
ICN Technology’s Role and Arrests in the Scam
The affidavit further states that the confidential work related to the CGL exam — including printing of question papers and their delivery to exam centres — had been outsourced to ICN Technology. In connection with irregularities found in the CGL exam, 28 people, including the company’s CEO Somansh Prakash, have been arrested, while notices have been issued to 265 individuals as the investigation continues. According to the probe, the agency responsible for conducting the exam indulged in large-scale malpractice, taking money from candidates and having them memorise answers in advance. Investigators have so far found evidence of such coaching taking place at centres in Nepal, Asansol, Kolkata, Bihar, Jharia and Bokaro, along with proof of monetary transactions between beneficiary candidates and those linked to the agency. Of the 28 candidates coached in Nepal, 10 are reported to have cleared the CGL exam.
Appointment Letters Carried a Caveat Tied to CID Probe
The appointment letters issued to successful CGL candidates reportedly carried a clause stating that their appointments would remain contingent on the outcome of the CID investigation. Based on findings from that probe, which pointed to the entire exam process being compromised, the matter was placed before the state cabinet, since distinguishing fair candidates from unfair ones was found to be impossible. The cabinet subsequently decided to cancel the examination, following which the formal cancellation order was issued.
